Showing posts with label Comedy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Comedy. Show all posts

Monday, October 14, 2013

Tammy

Tammy (2014)

Tammy (2014)




Comedy - 2 July 2014


Director : Ben Falcone
Writers : Ben Falcone, Melissa McCarthy
Stars : Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon, Dan Aykroyd, Mark Duplass

After losing her job and learning that her husband has been unfaithful, a woman hits the road with her profane, hard-drinking grandmother.





Watch Tammy Trailer :


Download Tammy

OR


 Buy Tammy Online

Bad Teacher

Bad Teacher (2011)

Bad Teacher (2011)




R - 92 min - Comedy - 24 June 2011
Big Blue Sky Rating : 5.6/10


Director : Jake Kasdan
Writers : Gene Stupnitsky, Lee Eisenberg
Stars : Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake, Lucy Punch

When her wealthy fiancé breaks it off, gold digger Elizabeth Halsey returns to middle school: she's an awful teacher but wants to save for breast-implant surgery. She brightens when Scott, a new teacher, turns out to be rich, and she stops showing films and sleeping in class when told there's a bonus for the teacher whose class scores highest on the state exam. Her competition for Scott and the bonus is cheery and tightly wound Amy. Amy digs for dirt on Elizabeth who cheats her way toward Scott's bed and the money. Honesty with students seems to be her only skill. She ignores Russell, a droll gym teacher, who looks on. Will she succeed with Scott and get those new breasts?


Hot for teacher

Comedies today keep trying to push the boundaries more and more to stand out. The Hangover movies are a perfect example of this. Much of it started with There's Something About Mary which grossed people out in a humorous way. The star of that movie, Cameron Diaz, shows her funny side once again in Bad Teacher. This one's not as risqué or shocking, but it tries to stand out with its premise - a teacher who treats her students like crap and could care less about educating them. In most movies like The Hangover, guys are doing all of the crude and nasty stuff. So it's a little refreshing to see a woman do it this time around, even if it's more things she says than does. We do get to see her wail on some kids with a dodgeball though. You feel kind of bad for the kids, but they seem to take it in stride. Maybe they're just happy to have a hot teacher, even if she's not doing her job. Let's face it, most kids aren't excited to learn. Here they get to spend most of their time in the classroom watching movies. I know I would've preferred that when I was in class.

Diaz plays money-seeking Elizabeth Halsey, a woman who somehow managed to become a teacher while waiting to marry her rich fiancé. She completes a year at her school doing the absolute bare minimum of teaching. But her fiancé dumps her after learning of her gold digging ways and now she finds herself stuck teaching at the school that she was just getting ready to leave for good. Elizabeth quickly learns that a new teacher played by Justin Timberlake comes from a very wealthy family. So she sets her radar on him as her next husband to be. He's the complete opposite of her, but that doesn't matter. He's very polite and rather nerdy. In fact, he's much more like Elizabeth's rival teacher Miss Squirrel. Once he starts getting close with the prissy Miss Squirrel, it becomes a battle of wits between the two women to be with him. But Elizabeth is out to get him for all the wrong reasons of course. While she sleeps through class and just plays movies for her students to watch, she spends the rest of her time trying to impress the wealthy new teacher and win him over. Advertisement

Timberlake, who's proved he can be very funny through all his appearances on Saturday Night Live, isn't really given much to do here. He just plays the clean-cut nerdy guy the best that he can. Jason Segal, who plays a fellow gym teacher, gets more of the laughs. His character sees right through Elizabeth but pursues her anyway. He goes along with everything she does but still makes sure to put her in check too. He's the one person at the school that she's able to relate to a little it seems. Watching the film you'll wonder if Elizabeth will find any sort of redemption and change her ways. You get the sense that Segal's character is the one person who can help her with that. The movie has some funny one-liners and interesting scenes, but I wouldn't say it's laugh-out-loud hilarious or anything. Still, it's a pretty funny premise and Cameron Diaz fits perfectly into the role. It's not a movie you'll remember down the road but it's worth checking out at least.


Watch Bad Teacher Trailer :


Download Bad Teacher

OR


 Buy Bad Teacher Online

Sex Tape

Sex Tape (2014)

Sex Tape (2014)




Comedy, Drama - 18 July 2014


Director : Jake Kasdan
Writers : Kate Angelo
Stars : Jason Segel, Cameron Diaz, Rob Corddry, Rob Lowe

A married couple wake up to discover that the sex tape they made the evening before has gone missing, leading to a frantic search for its whereabouts.





Watch Sex Tape Trailer :


Download Sex Tape

OR


 Buy Sex Tape Online

A Serious Man

A Serious Man (2009)

A Serious Man (2009)




R - 106 min - Comedy, Drama - 20 November 2009
Big Blue Sky Rating : 7.0/10


Director : Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Writers : Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Stars : Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Sari Lennick, Fred Melamed

Bloomington, Minnesota, 1967: Jewish physics lecturer Larry Gopnik is a serious and a very put-upon man. His daughter is stealing from him to save up for a nose job, his pot-head son, who gets stoned at his own bar-mitzvah, only wants him round to fix the TV aerial and his useless brother Arthur is an unwelcome house guest. But both Arthur and Larry get turfed out into a motel when Larry's wife Judy, who wants a divorce, moves her lover, Sy, into the house and even after Sy's death in a car crash they are still there. With lawyers' bills mounting for his divorce, Arthur's criminal court appearances and a land feud with a neighbour Larry is tempted to take the bribe offered by a student to give him an illegal exam pass mark. And the rabbis he visits for advice only dole out platitudes. Still God moves in mysterious - and not always pleasant - ways, as Larry and his family will find out.


Magnificent. The Coen Brothers take a detour.

Let me say up front that most fans of the Coen brothers' early films might be disappointed if they're expecting "Fargo", "The Big Lebowski" or even "O Brother". Unlike those movies, here we don't have a lot of plot, comedy or action. The message of the film is very challenging, and it requires a lot of thought to figure out what they're saying.

I'd say this movie is for fans of the recent American films "Synecdoche NY", "Doubt", and the recent Japanese films "Departures", "Yureru" and of course the classics by Kurosawa like "Rashomon". What I'm saying is that this is a film that tackles philosophical questions of perception, faith, and in particular, uncertainty.

If you've had some physics, you're in for a real treat because much of the theme centers around Schrödinger's "Uncertainty Principle", briefly touched upon in the Coens' excellent 2001 film "The Man Who Wasn't There". Here they give us a more powerful dose. If you've never heard of this principle, don't worry, you can look it up on Wikipedia or you can accept my synopsis of it, which I'll warn you might be flawed because I ain't no physicist:

The Uncertainty Principle (or "Schrödinger's Cat") proves mathematically that certain events are unknowable. It proposes the idea of a cat that might be alive or dead, but we cannot know without looking inside the cage. At the same time, the minute we look inside the cage, the cat will be killed by a toxic gas. The bottom line: we can't know the answer. Ever.

From there, the movie explores how different people react when confronted with the unknown. Some form prejudices. Some fall back on faith. Some become faithLESS. And some just don't care.

This is a beautifully crafted film that shows us the nature of human beings in that respect. No, there's not really a story. But it does even better than that: it challenges our minds to see elements of our own lives within the life of this ordinary schmuck. I am truly amazed at the Coens' accomplishment, and I hope they continue in this direction in the future, though I'm sure it may hurt their mainstream appeal.

If you see this film & like it, I think you'll really enjoy the other films I've listed as well as the Hungarian masterpiece "Werckmeister Harmonies", anything by Wim Wenders ("The End of Violence" touches on the same Uncertainty Principle) and Orson Welles' "The Trial".


Watch A Serious Man Trailer :


Download A Serious Man

OR


 Buy A Serious Man Online

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)




R - 122 min - Comedy, Drama, Romance - 25 December 2012
Big Blue Sky Rating : 7.9/10


Director : David O. Russell
Writers : David O. Russell, Matthew Quick
Stars : Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver

Against medical advice and without the knowledge of her husband Pat Solatano Sr., caring Dolores Solatano discharges her adult son, Pat Solatano Jr., from a Maryland mental health institution after his minimum eight month court ordered stint. The condition of the release includes Pat Jr. moving back in with his parents in their Philadelphia home. Although Pat Jr.'s institutionalization was due to him beating up the lover of his wife Nikki, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Nikki has since left him and has received a restraining order against him. Although he is on medication (which he doesn't take because of the way it makes him feel) and has mandatory therapy sessions, Pat Jr. feels like he can manage on the outside solely by healthy living and looking for the "silver linings" in his life. His goals are to get his old job back as a substitute teacher, but more importantly reunite with Nikki. He finds there are certain instances where he doesn't cope well, however no less so ...


One of the absolute best of the year.

It's difficult to write a review for David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook without constantly repeating three words: genuine, heartfelt and touching. I've long been a fan of Russell's work, through Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees and The Fighter but I always felt there was that extra something lacking in those three that prevented me from really loving them. It looks like he found what that something was, and to achieve it he had to make his most personal film yet. Playbook, adapted from the novel by Matthew Quick, tells the story of Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) who has just been released from a mental health facility after receiving court ordered treatment due to a violent incident. The incident also resulted in a restraining order from his wife Nikki, whom Pat is determined to mend fences with while being released into the care of his parents (Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver).

A few years ago, Russell was the kind of director known more for his on- set antics than he was for the films themselves. After his short temper and abrasive manner got the better of him on the set of Three Kings and more recently an on-set shouting match from I Heart Huckabees between him and Lily Tomlin leaked online and quickly made waves, he was beginning to come in danger of being a director whose films would be buried under the stigma of his own personality. His solution? Take a step back, learn to be more patient and controlled, and make a return six years later with The Fighter, a picture that earned him a heap of critical acclaim, eventually leading to an Oscar nomination for Best Director (not to mention two of his stars taking home trophies that night). With The Fighter we saw a different kind of filmmaker in Russell, someone more in tune with the humanity of his characters and their dynamics, more concerned with creating genuine emotion than anything else.

In Silver Linings Playbook, he takes that naturalistic approach and focus on familial themes another step further, making this as much about the many unique bonds Pat shares with the other characters as it is about him coming to terms with his own self. For what on paper could have appeared to be a rather conventional romantic comedy of two odd ducklings overcoming adversity and falling in love, Playbook has so much more on its mind and Russell handles it with a script that balances together all of his many themes and characters into an impeccably paced whole. There are several dynamics running through this story and yet none of them feel cheaply dismissed, lazily resolved or underdeveloped.

Once Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a young widow with plenty of her own emotional baggage, things begin to focus primarily on their growing relationship but rather than making this the "Pat and Tiffany" show from that point on, Russell makes sure to never lose sight of everything else that he had slowly been building within that framework. The film does follow a traditional overall arc concerning the relationship between the two of them, but nothing here feels typical in any way and that's thanks to how Russell writes everything surrounding Pat, along with the superbly natural performances from all of the cast, primarily Cooper and Lawrence.

I've made no secret of my distaste for Jennifer Lawrence as she's emerged over the past few years, finding her to be a very self-aware actress who is never able to shed herself enough to truly become a character. With Tiffany, she's given a loud, abrasive, promiscuous role that requires her to turn you away just as much as she pulls you in -- basically the worst kind of character for an actor who has trouble disappearing into a role. Much, much to my pleasant surprise, there wasn't an ounce of artificiality in her performance here. Not a single second was I seeing anyone other than Tiffany, this damaged girl who hides her pain by defending herself before anyone gets the chance to hurt her. She is completely in control of her skills as an actress here, and I think it's a level of performance that promises some great things from her moving forward.

All of that being said, Silver Linings Playbook absolutely belongs to Bradley Cooper every single step of the way. While everyone in the cast does great work, Cooper is on another level, commanding the entire picture with an exhilarating energy that commands from the very beginning. Utterly convincing in every layer of this portrayal (and there's many), he is at once frustrating, charming, naive, acerbic, honest and damn funny. This may be a romantic comedy in its narrative arc, but Russell never shies away from the darker facets of his central character and Cooper returns in kind, never afraid to make Pat momentarily unlikable for the natural development of one of the most genuine depictions of this type of mental illness I've seen in a film. Lawrence caught me off guard with her work, but Cooper is a flat-out revelation.

Silver Linings Playbook is a deceptive film in a lot of ways, taking a much more honest and personal route than you might expect and as a result it gets to the heart of its characters with an emotional resonance few of its type are capable of. Like he did with The Fighter, Russell takes on a familiar genre with a much more honest and natural approach than we're used to seeing on display within it and it works to an even greater level here. As I said before, that one had that extra something missing that would have allowed me to properly love it, but there's nothing missing from this one. Immaculately paced, emotionally involving, superbly written and performed, Silver Linings Playbook is one of the best films of the year and one that I immediately held dear to my heart.


Watch Silver Linings Playbook Trailer :


Download Silver Linings Playbook

OR


 Buy Silver Linings Playbook Online

A Madea Christmas

A Madea Christmas (2013)

A Madea Christmas (2013)




PG-13 - Comedy - 13 December 2013


Director : Tyler Perry
Writers : Tyler Perry
Stars : Tyler Perry, Chad Michael Murray, Tika Sumpter, Larry the Cable Guy

Madea gets coaxed into helping a friend pay her daughter a surprise visit in the country for Christmas, but the biggest surprise is what they'll find when they arrive. As the small, rural town prepares for its annual Christmas Carnival, new secrets are revealed and old relationships are tested while Madea dishes her own brand of Christmas Spirit to all.





Watch A Madea Christmas Trailer :


Download A Madea Christmas

OR


 Buy A Madea Christmas Online

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)




Comedy - 20 December 2013


Director : Adam McKay
Writers : Will Ferrell, Adam McKay
Stars : Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell

With the 70s behind him, San Diego's top rated newsman, Ron Burgundy, returns to take New York's first 24-hour news channel by storm.





Watch Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Trailer :


Download Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

OR


 Buy Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Online

Planes: Fire & Rescue

Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014)

Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014)




Animation, Comedy - 18 July 2014



Writers : Jeffrey M. Howard

Dusty Crophopper returns in the sequel to Planes.





Watch Planes: Fire & Rescue Trailer :


Download Planes: Fire & Rescue

OR


 Buy Planes: Fire & Rescue Online

Cars

Cars (2006)

Cars (2006)




G - 117 min - Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Sport - 9 June 2006
Big Blue Sky Rating : 7.2/10


Director : John Lasseter, Joe Ranft
Writers : John Lasseter, Joe Ranft
Stars : Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy

While traveling to California for the dispute of the final race of the Piston Cup against The King and Chick Hicks, the famous Lightning McQueen accidentally damages the road of the small town Radiator Springs and is sentenced to repair it. Lightning McQueen has to work hard and finds friendship and love in the simple locals, changing its values during his stay in the small town and becoming a true winner.


Charming story, vivid animation, wonderful characters

I went to the premier of "Cars" last night at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concorde and was delighted to find that the hours of traffic were worth it.

The story has a clear point and the message of friendship is easily understood by kids and adults alike. The variety of humor suits all generations, too, making this the first "summer must see" for the family.

Being an artist I was struck by the vibrancy of the animation. The colors were rich and beautiful, and there was such diverse vocal talent that the entire experience made it a treat for the crowd's eyes and ears. I've never been to a movie with more than a few hundred people in the theater, but let me assure you that all 30,000+ attendees at the Speedway last night applauded during the credits and for some very, very good reasons.


Watch Cars Trailer :


Download Cars

OR


 Buy Cars Online

Saturday, October 12, 2013

22 Jump Street

22 Jump Street (2014)

22 Jump Street (2014)




Action, Comedy - 13 June 2014


Director : Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Writers : Michael Bacall, Jonah Hill
Stars : Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, Wyatt Russell

Plot unknown.





Watch 22 Jump Street Trailer :


Download 22 Jump Street

OR


 Buy 22 Jump Street Online

Shuddh Desi Romance

Shuddh Desi Romance (2013)

Shuddh Desi Romance (2013)




141 min - Comedy, Drama, Romance - 6 September 2013
Big Blue Sky Rating : 5.9/10


Director : Maneesh Sharma
Writers : Jaideep Sahni
Stars : Sushant Singh Rajput, Parineeti Chopra, Rishi Kapoor, Vaani Kapoor

What happens when three young people in today's changing India try to figure out what love, attraction and commitment mean to each of them? Raghu (Shushant Singh Rajput) needs a woman in his life -the rest he's going to figure out along the way. Gayatri (Parineeti Chopra) has been around the block a few times and knows the scene, warts and all. Tara (Vaani Kapoor) knows what's right for her, but a little experimenting never did hurt anybody, did it? When their lives crisscross, their beliefs get challenged, and their loves, tested. We all want it all...the love, the sex, the relationship, the commitment. But when we get it, it may not be in the way we recognize.


Fresh, entertaining and extra points for an attempt to break the orthodox.

Yes, the storyline is rather fidgety. But since when did we become so staunch about the storyline from movies under Yash Raj Films banner? Acting is above average, Rishi Kapoor tops the list, of course. No surprises there. The script is entertaining and funny. Well, more often than not.

But the 7 / 10 is mostly because of the statement or the point that this movie tried to make about marriages in India. And even amidst the inconsistency of the movie, there is enough food for thought for this generation and for the country as a whole.

As India slowly turns into an epitome of hypocrisy as a country, I have a feeling that this movie won't be acceptable by the average Indian audience though there is no sex or foreplay as such. But hey, curvy girls in bikinis running on the beach in some Salman Khan movie is just fine! As long as there is objectification.

There are however both sexual and non-sexual peeves (for the Indian audience) thrown all over the movie and I found them brilliant as well as hilarious. Go ahead, take your family to this movie. Make them a little uncomfortable and be a little uncomfortable as well. Monkeys make out, we do too. It's okay! For once, don't judge.

Bottomline: Definitely entertaining. Definitely funny. Yes, it is a little mindless and the story wanders off at times. But it's worth the watch!


Watch Shuddh Desi Romance Trailer :


Download Shuddh Desi Romance

OR


 Buy Shuddh Desi Romance Online

The Monuments Men

The Monuments Men (2013)

The Monuments Men (2013)




Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, History, Thriller, War - 18 December 2013


Director : George Clooney
Writers : George Clooney, Grant Heslov
Stars : George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Bill Murray

Based on the true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, The Monuments Men is an action drama focusing on an unlikely World War II platoon, tasked by FDR with going into Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and returning them to their rightful owners. It would be an impossible mission: with the art trapped behind enemy lines, and with the German army under orders to destroy everything as the Reich fell, how could these guys - seven museum directors, curators, and art historians, all more familiar with Michelangelo than the M-1 - possibly hope to succeed? But as the Monuments Men, as they were called, found themselves in a race against time to avoid the destruction of 1000 years of culture, they would risk their lives to protect and defend mankind's greatest achievements. From director George Clooney, the film stars George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville, and Cate Blanchett. The screenplay is by ...





Watch The Monuments Men Trailer :


Download The Monuments Men

OR


 Buy The Monuments Men Online

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)




Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy - 25 December 2013
Big Blue Sky Rating : 6.5/10


Director : Ben Stiller
Writers : Steve Conrad, James Thurber
Stars : Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Patton Oswalt

An office worker who lives inside fantasy worlds where he gets to live an adventurous life while romancing his co-worker sets off a global journey to fix things when both of their jobs are threatened.


"Walter Mitty" misfires on several cylinders...

NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL: The East Coast crowd was the first to finally get a look at Ben Stiller's long-awaited remake of "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" in which he stars with Academy Award nominee Kristen Wiig and Academy Award winners Shirley MacLaine and Sean Penn. Expectations were high following a trailer that wowed many with its visual style and seemingly interesting premise. In the end, Stiller's take on the 1947 classic is rather bombastic and brings forth narrative clichés and messy executions. This isn't to say it's a complete misfire. There are definite and obvious positives to take away.

The entire camera work by Stuart Dryburgh, most notable for his work on Jane Campion's "The Piano" twenty years ago, is smoothly appealing with stunning shots for the audience to sink their teeth into. As the film travels throughout different parts of the world including Iceland and Greenland, two places that haven't been explored that much in film according to screenwriter Steve Conrad, are stunning. We have to give credit to director Stiller who knows how to frame his films exceedingly well. There are elements where he takes his cues from films like "Stranger than Fiction" and "Garden State." At the press conference he mentioned watching "The Apartment" with the cast in order to get a feel for what he wanted this sprawling epic to feel like. Unfortunately, "Walter Mitty" doesn't resemble nor bring any of the feelings that the Oscar-winning Best Picture was able to achieve.

Attempting to take Stiller on as a "visionary" director seemed a bit far-fetched when his filmography have included the comedic greats like "Tropic Thunder" and "Reality Bites." This is surely his most ambitious effort he's attempted. One thing is for sure, Stiller hasn't been this good in front of the camera in his entire career. While the narrative structure of "Walter Mitty" is incredibly uneven and stereo typically constructed, Stiller puts some of his acting chops forward. It's good to see him in something like this. A Golden Globe nomination could definitely come his way. Steve Conrad's script is a jumbled farce, misfiring on comedic executions and inserting beats that have no real relevance to the story. A "Benjamin Button" joke, though funny to watch, provides no purpose to our tale. I'm also tired of watching the "nerdy office guy" transform himself into the cool and collected man by film's end. Note to filmmakers, just because your main character is in a shirt and tie at the beginning of the movie, you can't just let them grow a beard, put on a sweater and jeans, and suddenly the audience is supposed to believe he's this "new person." This movie is an epic fantasy tale about a man who daydreams about things that would be more outlandish than the real world. There's a false sense of reality when we're in the "real world." Jumping on a plane, suddenly flying across the world, and then receiving cell phone reception in the Himalayas is not exactly something that would happen in today's age.

Kristen Wiig really tries, god bless her soul. Playing our love interest Cheryl, Wiig is a recently divorced, single mom who, for no real reason whatsoever, takes an interest in Walter's "mystery" that he must solve. Wiig's "moment" is unfortunately cut short by a directorial choice by Stiller. A scene of her playing guitar and singing the first few bars of "Space Odyssey" by David Bowie builds up before being cut short by an insertion of the original number. Wasted. It did make me pop it in on my way home so I guess it's not a complete miss.

Oscar winners Sean Penn and Shirley MacLaine are the best of the cast, using their veteran style and wits to make a wonderful and memorable impression. Same goes for Kathryn Hahn, who needs a great role in the near future. She's versatile in comedy as we've seen in "Step Brothers" but she excels just as well in serious, heartbreaking turns like in "Revolutionary Road." She doesn't have much to offer our tale in this case. No fault of her own. Should also mention that Adam Scott from NBC's "Park and Recreation" is probably one of the funniest villains of the year. His comedic timing is pretty spot on and continues to shine in sleazy, douchebag roles.

Let's not forget that this tale builds up to a final image that is rather anti-climatic and much of a letdown. I can appreciate the respect and passion that Stiller has for the source material and more times than not, the film is entertaining. Mass audiences will probably fall for it in a big way especially around the holidays.

From the looks of it, the film is going to be incredibly divisive. Some will love it, others will be disappointed. I unfortunately fall more towards the latter of that equation. "Walter Mitty" is a decent time at the movie and is definitely in contention for several technical Oscars. Things like Production Design, Cinematography, and Visual Effects are possibilities.

"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" opens in theaters December 25.


Watch The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Trailer :


Download The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

OR


 Buy The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Online

Saving Mr. Banks

Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

Saving Mr. Banks (2013)




PG-13 - 125 min - Biography, Comedy, Drama, Family, History, Music - 20 December 2013


Director : John Lee Hancock
Writers : Kelly Marcel, Sue Smith
Stars : Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Ruth Wilson, Colin Farrell

When Walt Disney's daughters begged him to make a movie of their favorite book, P.L. Travers' "Mary Poppins," he made them a promise - one that he didn't realize would take 20 years to keep. In his quest to obtain the rights, Walt comes up against a curmudgeonly, uncompromising writer who has absolutely no intention of letting her beloved magical nanny get mauled by the Hollywood machine. But, as the books stop selling and money grows short, Travers reluctantly agrees to go to Los Angeles to hear Disney's plans for the adaptation. For those two short weeks in 1961, Walt Disney pulls out all the stops. Armed with imaginative storyboards and chirpy songs from the talented Sherman brothers, Walt launches an all-out onslaught on P.L. Travers, but the prickly author doesn't budge. He soon begins to watch helplessly as Travers becomes increasingly immovable and the rights begin to move further away from his grasp. It is only when he reaches into his own childhood that Walt discovers the ...





Watch Saving Mr. Banks Trailer :


Download Saving Mr. Banks

OR


 Buy Saving Mr. Banks Online

Her

Her (2013)

Her (2013)




120 min - Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi - 10 January 2014
Big Blue Sky Rating : 6.1/10


Director : Spike Jonze
Writers : Spike Jonze
Stars : Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, Rooney Mara

A lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system that's designed to meet his every need.


Just about the best thing you can see in 2013...

Talk about closing with a bang. Spike Jonze's long-awaited original film about a writer that falls in love with his operating system is not only the best film to play at this year's New York Film Festival; it very well could be the very best film of the year. "Her" is the finest writing and directorial endeavor of Spike Jonze's career. And then there's the towering and crowning work of Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix who proves once again, he's the finest actor working today, hands down. You can't find a more dynamic and compelling story about the human connection and where we're headed as a society.

When "Her" opens up, it snaps you immediately into the story. Phoenix plays Theodore, a writer for a website that makes letters for just about anyone. As he tries to find life during the midst of his divorce from his wife Catherine (played by a beautiful Rooney Mara), Theodore finds solace in a friendship with a new OS (operating system) named Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). The two develop a relationship in a world where OS's are becoming the norm with society.

Jonze's has never been the conventional director as we've seen in his other brilliant efforts "Being John Malkovich" and "Where the Wild Things Are." Jonze sets out to tell a story and deliver all the intricate details for us to understand each character. His focus on Theodore, giving him a real sense of loneliness without falling into cliché character ticks and beats that we've seen countless times in other romantic films, Jonze constructs a real man living in a world where technology has taken precedent over human connection.

Christopher Nolan should take notes from Jonze on the assembling of female counterparts in a story. Catherine and Theodore's friend Amy, played by the always dependable Amy Adams, both feel genuinely authentic. Mara, who's already delivered one other powerful performance in "Ain't Them Bodies Saints" earlier this year, is finely utilized. She shows once again that she's a true professional, with limited screen time (many in flashbacks); she can staple herself in your memory.

Amy Adams is always the sprinkle on top in all of her films. As "Amy," the awkward friend and neighbor who sympathizes more with Theodore more than she'd like to, Adams expertly executes. With four prior Oscar nominations to her credit, her stunning portrayal is just another fantastic pin to add to her credits. She could find traction during the awards season if the film hits in the right way. That's also part to the petty Oscar rules about rewarding voice performances because if that wasn't the case, Scarlett Johansson would be on stage holding an Oscar of her own next March. As "Samantha," Johansson has never tapped into the essence of her abilities as an actress the way she does in "Her." As an OS, full of wonder and curiosity, "Samantha" is essentially a child. Learning at a rapid rate and studying the behaviors of the human mind, she looks at the world through the eyes of Theodore. Johansson holds our hand in through the tale, even when her voice isn't on screen. This is the type of work that could convince the Board of Governors to rethink the eligibility of an acting performance. This is a masterful work that I'll remember for years to come.

And then there's Joaquin Phoenix...oh, Mr. Phoenix. Fresh off his historic performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master" just a year ago, I didn't think he could impress me so soon and yet here we are. His sensitive and perceptive take on the role is what films are all about. It's one of the best things that 2013 has offered and a performance that could land him his first Oscar. I think Phoenix himself was impressed with the work he and his colleagues have accomplished. At the press conference, he actually gave an answer to one of the questions from the audience. If anyone was in attendance at the conference for James Gray's "The Immigrant" - a prickly, disengaged Phoenix put on his sunglasses and put the microphone on the floor. This is a performance that you can identify with. He's not simply awkward for the sake of being, he has baggage and connection issues. There's sincerity in his words and mannerisms. A getaway in a cabin, alone but with "Samantha" encapsulates everything about Theodore. Phoenix achieves the impossible and is an instant Oscar contender.

But "Her" isn't just about the writing and performances; it's an all- around technical marvel. Most notably the Production Design of K.K. Barrett, who has worked on "Where the Wild Things Are." Our story takes place in a futuristic (though never said how far ahead) Los Angeles and with shooting overseas, Barrett captures the clout of the city and its inside counterparts. Cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema's use of colors and smooth palettes are things of a dream. Affectionately snuggling up to Phoenix as he whispers the sweetness of words to "Samantha" or the sweetness of a new letter at work, Hoytema has quickly become one of my favorite DP's, especially following "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and "Let the Right One In." Arcade Fire and Karen O. are simply magic in their music that accompanies our story about love. A modern yet classical composition that in key scenes could move you to tears.

"Her" is one of the best love stories I've witnessed in some time. Charlie Kaufman will always have the honor of penning my favorite love story of all-time "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" but Spike Jonze and "Her" are giving it a true run for the money at the moment. Warner Bros. must know what they have with a limited release in late November; this...

Read More @ http://www.awardscircuit.com


Watch Her Trailer :


Download Her

OR


 Buy Her Online

Friday, October 11, 2013

The Hangover Part II

The Hangover Part II (2011)

The Hangover Part II (2011)




R - 102 min - Comedy - 26 May 2011
Big Blue Sky Rating : 6.4/10


Director : Todd Phillips
Writers : Craig Mazin, Scot Armstrong
Stars : Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha

Stu is getting married. Along with Doug, Phil, and his soon-to-be brother-in-law Teddy, he regretfully invites Alan to Thailand for the wedding. After a quiet night on the beach with a beer and toasting marshmallows by the camp fire, Stu, Alan and Phil wake up in a seedy apartment in Bangkok. Doug is back at the resort, but Teddy is missing, there's a monkey with a severed finger, Alan's head is shaved, Stu has a tattoo on his face, and they can't remember any of it. The wolf-pack retrace their steps through strip clubs, tattoo parlors and cocaine-dealing monkeys on the streets of Bangkok as they try and find Teddy before the wedding.


It was better the first time around

The Hangover was a surprise hit in 2009 that went on to be not only a critically acclaimed film, but also a huge box office success. The Hangover Part 2 is exactly the same movie except this one takes place in Bangkok, and isn't nearly as good or as funny as the first film.

This time around Stu (Ed Helms) is getting married and they're having the wedding in Thailand, which is his future wife's home country. Coming back along with him we have bad boy Phil (Bradley Cooper), the groom from the previous movie Doug (Justin Barth), and the person who practically stole the entire first movie, Alan (Zach Galafianakis). Once in Thailand we meet a slew of new characters who really don't ever seem to matter all that much and eventually we get to the next day and where the movie turns into an exact copy of the first one.

Why the writers and director thought essentially remaking the first movie would be good is beyond me. Other than they figured it would make a ton of money regardless of how they made it. But to make almost exact scenes over again is just ridiculous. The gang loses one of their own again but this time it isn't Doug, it's Stu's soon to be brother-in-law Teddy. They wake up and have no idea as to what happened the previous night and have to go on another wild adventure to try and figure out everything that happened, only this time it doesn't seem nearly as interesting.

They even go as far as to bring back characters from the first movie that have no business even being in this one. Ken Jeong comes back as Mr. Chow and while he was one of the few funny characters, he really served no purpose in being there. Mike Tyson also comes back for another cameo, singing once again. Only this time it feels like it was just crammed in because he was in the last one and had a really great cameo. In this movie it's just unnecessary and makes you wish he didn't show up.

Our main characters this time around aren't even as funny as they were before. Alan just seems almost too outrageous and crazy, Stu freaks out every moment of the movie and Phil is just kind of there throughout. There were about two times that I actually laughed out loud and another few times where I got some chuckles but that was pretty much it.

All in all, this movie felt like it was made just to cash in on the very successful first movie and they ended up just remaking the first one only this time it wasn't nearly as good.

Rating: 4/10


Watch The Hangover Part II Trailer :


Download The Hangover Part II

OR


 Buy The Hangover Part II Online

Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl

Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl (2011)

Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl (2011)




NOT RATED - 140 min - Comedy, Drama - 9 December 2011
Big Blue Sky Rating : 5.9/10


Director : Maneesh Sharma
Writers : Devika Bhagat, Aditya Chopra
Stars : Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, Parineeti Chopra, Dipannita Sharma

Delhi-based Dimple Chaddha lives a wealthy lifestyle with her parents, and has a steady boyfriend in Sunny Singh. On the pretext of attending a Sangeet, she goes on a date with him, consumes alcohol, passes out, and is brought home in his arms. He impresses her parents and they not only approve of him but Mr. Chaddha uses goon-power to evict tenants from a Bungalow on Barakhamba Road which belongs to Sunny's grandfather. He then offers to purchase it for Rs.2 Crores and advances Rs.20 Lakhs to Sunny, who takes the cash and disappears - leaving Mr. Chaddha to face the real owners as well as being arrested by the police. Sunny strikes again, this time as Deven Shah in Mumbai, and his target is business executive, Raina Parulekar, who he cons for Rs.90 Lakhs by selling her a fake painting. The media gets involved. Dimple, together with a Lucknow-based widow, Saira Rashid, who has lost Rs.10 Lakhs to a man called Iqbal Khan, contact her. They soon discover that Sunny, Deven and Iqbal are ...


Good Follow-up

Ladies Vs Richy Bahl makes for a pretty good watch for quite an amount of reasons. The movie was short, didn't get draggy at all which is only the second best part of the movie after the HOT BOD Anushka Sharma flaunts in the movie. have to give it to her, AMAZING. She could give the other ladies in the industry a run for their money. The plot is decent enough to keep you on your seats and the music well done too with a good amount of laughter moments thrown in too at good intervals mainly by this Delhi girl character(whose name I forget).

So all in all the Ranveer-Anushka duo made good stuff on the screen after their first outing in Band Baaja.


Watch Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl Trailer :


Download Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl

OR


 Buy Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl Online